EMOTIONAL CLOSENESS, SOCIAL NETWORK, NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE AFFECTS, AND AGITATION IN OLDER ADULTS WITH DEMENTIA

Abstract Background If given a choice, people with dementia (PWD) would prefer to live in their homes instead of nursing homes. Living in older adults’ own houses would positively impact their quality of life and be associated with more privacy, security, and social support. In addition, living in a nursing home is not culturally and religiously accepted, especially in a religious and conservative country like Jordan. However, with increased financial obligations and hardships in Jordan, women are forced to work outsides their houses. Therefore, PWD stay alone in their homes without care or attention. This neglect would put PWD at significant risk for adverse physical and psychosocial health consequences. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of 102 Jordanian PWD (51 Community-dwelling older adults and 51 NH residents) to examine the association of their emotional closeness and social networks with agitation and positive and negative affects. Result: The finding of this study based on an independent samples t-test showed that NH residents were significantly more likely to have physically non-aggressive behaviors than community-dwelling older adults. The study showed that the PWD’s sex (male), higher educational levels, and patients with a family member in the healthcare field are associated significantly with their mean positive affects score. Conclusion Future research would consider exploring potential factors associated with agitation and affect in PWD. Experimental studies that intend to increase the levels of social support and emotional closeness, thus alleviating negative affect and levels of agitation, are recommended in the future.

of depression for older adults.However, little research has explored how information seeking behaviors effect risks of depression among older adults.To fill this gap in the literature and provide insights into the mechanism of information access impacts the mental health of older adults, this study examines the relationships between different ways for obtaining daily information (reading, using computer, and watching television) and depression among older adults in United States.The data retrieved from 2018's Health and Retirement Study (HRS).We multiple linear regression analyses on HRS data including adults age 50 years and older (n=3,179).After adjusting for age, gender, race, marital status, education, and chronic diseases, all three different ways to obtaining daily information (reading, using computer, and watching television) were negatively associated with depression (β=-0.19,p< 0.001; β=-0.15,p=0.002; β=-0.15,p< 0.001, respectively).Findings suggest that the association between everyday life information acquisition and depression among older adults varies depending on the specific information acquisition methods used.These findings highlight the importance of implementing targeted interventions to promote effective information access and enhance social inclusion among older adults.Social isolation and loneliness among older adults correspond with numerous mental and physical health consequences including but not limited to depression, anxiety, declines in cognitive functioning, and poor health behaviors.More recent research highlights the potential benefits of digital-social communication technology through social networking sites (SNS), communicative technology, and computer or tablet use (Khosravi et al. 2016;Jutai and Tuazon 2022;Neil-Sztramko et al. 2020).However, the efficacy of technology on mental and physical well-being remains obscure, particularly given the often interchangeability of isolation and loneliness concepts.In this research, we examine the extent to which conditions of isolation and feelings of loneliness correspond with depression among older adults.Using data from two waves of Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data in 2018 and 2020 (N = 8,994), we conduct a series of linear regressions of depression scales on both isolation and loneliness as well as their interaction with the use of social technology in communication.Preliminary results suggest that that the use of virtual communications by social networking sites (SNS) moderates the associations between isolation and depression levels, but no such effect is observed in terms of self-perception of loneliness.Moreover, the magnitude of SNS-Isolation and depression linkages differs significantly for family and friends.This research contributes to the growing body of literature on the intersection of technology and psychological well-being among isolated older adults, highlighting the both the potential benefits and limitations of virtual communication for improving health outcomes in older adults.

EFFECTIVENESS OF TELEDELIVERED BEHAVIORAL ACTIVATION AND MINDFULNESS INTERVENTIONS IN REDUCING LONELINESS
Da Jiang 1 , Dannii Yeung 2 , Namkee Choi 3 , Rainbow Tin Hung Ho 4 , Jojo Yan Yan Kwok 4 , Youqiang Song 4 , Lisa M. Warner 5 , and Kee Lee Chou 1 , 1. Education University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong,Hong Kong,2. City University of Hong Kong,Kowloon Tong,Hong Kong,3. University of Texas,Austin,Texas,United States,4. The University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong,Hong Kong,5. MSB Medical School Berlin,Berlin,Germany Loneliness is one of the most prevalent mental health problems in older adults, especially among those who live alone and are digitally excluded.The phenomenon has become more conspicuous during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the constraints on physical contact and travel.In this three-armed randomized controlled trial, we examined the effectiveness of two telephone-delivered loneliness interventions (i.e., behavioral activation [Tele-BA], mindfulness [Tele-MF]) against a telephone-delivered active control group (i.e., befriending [Tele-BF]) in reducing loneliness, based on the behavioral theory of depression and monitor acceptance theory.We trained retirees as lay counselors to deliver the interventions to enhance the scalability and sustainability of the interventions.Older adults who lived alone and under the poverty line in Hong Kong, did not have Internet at home, and felt lonely were randomly assigned to one of the three groups (N = 1045, Mage = 76.59,SDage = 7.83, 78% female).Participants in each group received two 30-minute weekly intervention sessions for four weeks.They completed assessments at the baseline (T1), four weeks (T2) and six months (T3) following the intervention, respectively.Compared with their counterparts in the Tele-BF group, participants in the Tele-BA and Tele-MF groups reported lower levels of loneliness and perceived stress and higher levels of psychological well-being and perceived social support at T2 and T3.These findings provide scientific understandings on the effectiveness of Tele-BA and Tele-MF interventions for reducing loneliness among older adults in Hong Kong, and demonstrate the feasibility of conducting lay counselordelivered telephone-based interventions for older adults.

EMOTIONAL CLOSENESS, SOCIAL NETWORK, NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE AFFECTS, AND AGITATION IN OLDER ADULTS WITH DEMENTIA Mohammad Rababa, Jordan University Of Science And Technology, Irbid, Irbid, Jordan
Background: If given a choice, people with dementia (PWD) would prefer to live in their homes instead of nursing homes.Living in older adults' own houses would positively impact their quality of life and be associated with more privacy, security, and social support.In addition, living in a nursing home is not culturally and religiously accepted, especially in a religious and conservative country like Jordan.However, with increased financial obligations and hardships in Jordan, women are forced to work outsides their houses.Therefore, PWD stay alone in their homes without care or attention.This neglect would put PWD at significant risk for adverse physical and psychosocial health consequences.
Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of 102 Jordanian PWD (51 Community-dwelling older adults and 51 NH residents) to examine the association of their emotional closeness and social networks with agitation and positive and negative affects.Result: The finding of this study based on an independent samples t-test showed that NH residents were significantly more likely to have physically non-aggressive behaviors than community-dwelling older adults.The study showed that the PWD's sex (male), higher educational levels, and patients with a family member in the healthcare field are associated significantly with their mean positive affects score.Conclusion: Future research would consider exploring potential factors associated with agitation and affect in PWD.Experimental studies that intend to increase the levels of social support and emotional closeness, thus alleviating negative affect and levels of agitation, are recommended in the future.
Abstract citation ID: igad104.2724Boredom is a concept that seems at odds with leisure, yet research on this topic indicates these constructs are often connected.Leisure boredom has been studied primarily among adolescents (Donati et al., 2019;Weybright et al., 2015).However, boredom is prevalent among older adults.Social isolation and loneliness often intertwine with boredom, and research suggests that prolonged boredom can negatively affect health and well-being (An et al, 2022;Goldberg et al., 2011).Yet, there is a dearth of research on this topic and existing literature typically examines adults' functional status and disengagement or selective investment in leisure activities (Kleiber et al., 2008) rather than examining boredom more broadly.Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the concept of boredom holistically in the context of leisure among community-dwelling older adults.The study used a multi-method approach utilizing focus groups and projective techniques of sentence completions and drawings.Forty-two older adults were recruited from senior centers and senior communities located in four western US cities. Thematic analysis with a six-step process outlined by Braun and Clarke (2006) was employed to analyze the data.Boredom was described as a personal state (e.g., negative self-perception, low energy and sensation/arousal, lacking motivation) and as activity-related emotions derived from unsatisfied/disengaged leisure participation.Participants also highlighted how life events and circumstances shaped their identity and contributed to boredom.Findings offered meaningful insights into how participants defined boredom, articulated causes of boredom, and strategies they use to alleviate boredom.

EXPLORING THE PHENOMENON OF BOREDOM IN THE CONTEXT OF LEISURE AMONG OLDER ADULTS
Abstract citation ID: igad104.2725

FEELING YOU BELONG: THE EFFECTS OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ON WELL-BEING IN LATER LIFE
Emily Briggs, and Jacqui Smith, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States The area where someone lives is an important, yet neglected, contextual factor for the health of older adults.Previous literature suggests that an individual may develop an attachment to their neighborhood through a feeling of "rootedness," which may contribute to feelings of belonging (Connerly & Marans, 1985).This sense of belonging is an essential component of harmonious communities with actively engaged residents.Together, feeling that you belong (perceived social cohesion) and active engagement in a community may be related to a higher overall sense of subjective well-being.Perceived social cohesion within a neighborhood also influences an individual's level of community engagement.Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this study investigates the impact of perceived social cohesion and community engagement on subjective well-being.The sample (N=5581, Mean Age (SD)= 68.34 (10.35),Range 50-98 years) included participants from the 2018 wave of data collection, who completed the Psychosocial Leave Behind Questionnaire.Multiple regression revealed that community engagement (β=.19, p=<.001) and social cohesion (β =.26, p=<.001) significantly predicted life satisfaction (R2=.096).These relationships remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, and years of education (Adj R2=.111, p<.001).These results suggest a sense of belonging may be more predictive than actual engagement on subjective well-being, this finding also interacts with age.Future work in this area should investigate the other possible influences that impact perceived feelings of belonging.

HOW CAN WE SOLVE THE LONELINESS PROBLEMS WITH INTERGENERATIONAL DIGITAL DIVIDE?
Yeseul Lee 1 , Si Young Song 2 , Susanna Joo 3 , and Hyoun Kyoung Kim 1 , 1. Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 2. Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea,3. BK21. Symbiotic Society and Design,Seoul,Republic of Korea As Korean society is rapidly digitalizing and aging, 'the intergenerational digital divide' due to a large gap in digital skills between the younger and older generations is rising social issues.Lack of digital skills among older adults is likely to make them feel isolated with limited opportunities for social integration in a highly digitalized society.This study examined the extent to which digital skills and intergenerational integration were differently associated with loneliness in Korea between the younger and older generations with the aim of informing efforts to reduce loneliness.The data was collected through an online survey from December 2021 through January 2022.The sample consisted of 315 Korean older adults aged 65 or above and 322 young adults in their 20s.The loneliness with 11 items from Loneliness Scale, digital skills with 4 items from Digital Citizenship Scale, Intergenerational Integration Scale with 30 items and a binary generation variable (young adults=0, older adults=1) were measured.Results from a serial mediation analysis showed that, compared to younger adults, older adults had lower levels of digital skills, which led to low intergenerational integration, which in turn affected loneliness.Findings from two

CONNECTING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY: EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES AND MENTAL HEALTH Joseph
Svec 1 , Yeon Ji Ryou 2 , and Jeong Eun Lee 2 , 1. Saint Joseph's University, New York City, New York, United States, 2. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States Jaesung An 1 , Laura Payne 2 , and Megan Janke 3 , 1. California State University East Bay, Hayward, California, United States, 2. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, United States, 3. Berry College, Mt Berry, Georgia, United States